02.09.2023 –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division’s Naval Innovative Science & Engineering Program (NISE) recently held a virtual information session for interested parties that helped kick off NISE’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 proposal period.
The NISE Program was established in 2009 as part of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of the same year to “maintain the science and technology vitality of the Department of Defense (DoD), foster creativity and stimulate exploration, support high-value and high-risk research and development, and enhance our ability to address future military, naval, and DoD missions,” NISE Program Manager Ryan Fox said on the program’s history and goals.
“The simplest way I think you can think of this program is that this is an internal research and development program for the Department of Navy,” Fox added.
NISE Program funds are commonly referred to as “219 funds” in DoD circles as they initially came from section 219 of the aforementioned NDAA for FY 2009.
The program was later amended by section 2801 of the NDAA for FY 2010 and codified into law in United States Code under Title 10-Armed Forces.
The NISE Program includes five different categories which are: basic research, applied research, technology transition, revitalizing and recapitalization, and workforce development.
The information session also outlined NSWCPD’s Focus Areas for FY 2024. These focus areas are in alignment with the Naval Sea Systems Command and Warfare Center Strategic Initiatives.
“NISE is for improving the ability of the command, and that means both the ability in your branch and its technical ability or your capability as an individual scientist or engineer working for the command,” NSWCPD Chief Technology Officer Dr. Eugene “Mike” Golda said on the NISE Program’s purpose during the question-and-answer segment of the information session.
The NISE Proposal Open Period for FY 2024 began on Jan. 9, 2023 and will conclude on Feb. 13, 2023. Philly Focus Area Champions will then review proposals that fit into the five categories of the NISE Program and the eight Philly Focus Areas.
Recommended proposals are then sent on to the NISE Board for approval. The approved projects deemed acceptable for the scientific and technological advancement of the DoD are then added to the NISE portfolio and are granted 219 funds to aid in the execution of the project.
NSWCPD Director of Research Development Test & Evaluation Sean Brennan made sure to emphasize the NISE team’s commitment to help foster advancement and innovation as he said, “I encourage anybody if you have the ideas or questions. (And) I appreciate the question about ‘Hey, I don’t have the lab space’ to include that in [the proposal] …so if…you want somebody to look at it [the proposal], me, Dr. Golda and Dr. [Stephen] Mastro (NSWCPD Deputy Chief Technology Officer) would be more than happy to look it over for you.”
Brennan also explained the importance of submitting NISE proposals even in a resource constrained environment. NSWCPD does not want to restrict the opportunity to advance capabilities and capacities for the command due to the constraints.
“If we have places we can advance the technology … We want to hear them and we have the funds to execute that. We look forward to your ideas,” Brennan said.
NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.